“Lundstrum Just Lit Something Up In Me”: Alumni Seraiah Brooks Speaks Out:

In the past year, Seraiah Brooks earned his degree in biochemistry from University of Northwestern – St. Paul, starred in a feature film that now is in post-production, launched a solo music career, and got married. 

Jacob Frey, Mayor of Minneapolis, Alumni Seraiah Brooks, Amy Casserly Ellis at 2024 Inspiring Dreams Breakfast.

But the 21-year-old says that none of this would have happened without Lundstrum Performing Arts.

“I remember the first time I walked into the lobby for a placement audition,” he remembers. “I was so nervous. But the warm and kind encouragement of the Casserly sisters just lit something up in me. Next thing I knew, it was Saturday and I was warming up in Miss Janie’s dance class!”

 Seraiah studied and performed with Lundstrum through middle and high school. It’s here, he says, that he learned about working hard and believing in your dreams. “There is nothing more fun and rewarding than chasing your dreams,” he says. “It’s an important life skill and Lundstrum develops that skill in young artists. My aspirations and skill sets grew here.”

Seraiah Brooks in Oklahoma 2020

Seraiah Brooks in Bye Bye Birdie 2021

 His accomplishments at Lundstrum helped him land a place in the University of Northwestern’s theater program, where he got leading roles starting in his freshman year. “Lundstrum gives youth a competitive edge,” he says. “It’s so integral to our community to have a space where youth can develop into talented and dynamic performers who do great things. Lundstrum gave me the tools to capture my dreams and showed me that through hard work, anything is possible.”